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Bones Review: We Remember

Is it just me... or did this not feel like the same Bones we've been watching for the past several episodes? Because this didn't feel like the same show. In fact, this felt like a return to the old Bones, pre-Christine maybe.

While "The Patriot in Purgatory" didn't do anything in the way of advancing the plot for this season, it was moving and engaging in a way the past few weeks haven't been, leaving me hopeful for what's to come.

I have to admit that I went into tonight's episode a bit skeptical. Cam's preparation of the squinterns and the five of them practically tripping over one another to figure out the mystery of the remains on the table set a tone of silliness that was perpetuated by Bones channeling her inner basketball coach.

As we covered last week, Fisher isn't my favorite, and I anticipated another episode centering not on our main duo, but on the peripheral characters who flesh out the cast. Bones as "coach" felt out of character and borderline ridiculous, particularly when she handed out butt-slaps after assigning the squinterns the task of identifying the as-yet unidentified remains.

I understand the need for comic relief in the midst of tragedy, and I know that was the purpose of the basketball coach imitation, but after viewing the episode and looking at it as a whole, the comedic moments tonight felt unnecessary because of how purpose-driven this episode was with regards to uncovering both the identity of the man and how he died.

To me, this hour didn't feel like a tragedy. It felt like a tribute both to an infamous day in our nation's history and to the characters we know and love.

This was a perfect balance of the motivations of both the main and supporting cast. We were able to understand what inspired each of them to seek the identity of the homeless man and solve his death.

Booth saw a fellow soldier who deserved dignity, a man who died a hero. Brennan and the squinterns felt compelled to use their science to help those bones find rest. Cam was in New York on 9/11 and witnessed that horror firsthand. Angela is a sweet spirit and gentle soul who sees the dead as the people they were instead of bones on a table. Hodgins, who would ordinarily have a conspiracy theory at the ready, had none.

Booth's desire to carry out the mission of Tim Murphy was compelling, as was Bones' desire to give Booth what she knew he neede: -closure for a man whom he saw as a fellow soldier. This gave us that connection between Booth and Bones that seems to have been missing in the past few weeks.

As the squinterns had their heated moments and shared their stories of where they'd been, I found myself rapt and invested in hearing their tales. None of the characters tonight felt like caricatures. They all felt like friends.

Despite the fact that I'm a television reviewer, I'm also a spoiler-phobe. I usually go into episodes knowing only what's been released to the public.

I knew that tonight would be about September 11th, but I didn't know how much the episode would affect me. How it would gently force me to remember where I was and what I was doing that morning in 2001 when planes crashed into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania.

Many shows have tried to pay homage to 9/11 and few, I think, have done it in a way as nice as Bones did tonight. Bravo, Bones.

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Steve Holle•January 15, 2013 18:24

Extremely dissapointed in the "Mothman" episode. I'm sick of being lectured by TV programs. Not only did this episode manufacture an imaginary "missing link" but managed to lecture us on "hate crimes." Stick to what you know.

Nicole•November 21, 2012 02:31

Haven't cried so much at a tv show in a while. Wow. One of the best tributes they could have done. So proud of Bones for tackling this storyline.

Great episode. Well developed story-line. Great idea to have the 5 interns, who have been obviously cast with attention to their differences. They did a great job of playing off one another. The only gotcha was having Hodgins describe the jet fuel as containing both kerosene and ethlyene glycol. That's just B.S. science. Mixing jet fuel(kerosene) with antifreeze makes an incombustable mixture. I don't think jet engines even need liquid coolent beyond using the fuel itself. Synthetic lubricants provide all that the turbine bearings need. It only took one google request to find the wiki concerning jet fuels.

Sharon•November 14, 2012 21:46

Love the show. I loved the interns working togather to solve a cold case. (9/11) will always be in our minds. Thanks for making Brennan a little more human, the butt slap was too much. I think this show is great. Thanks

Reviewer said"To me, this hour didn't feel like a tragedy. It felt like a tribute both to an infamous day in our nation's history and to the characters we know and love."AMEN to that, and I wholeheartedly agree that this episode felt like one from 4 years ago, back when Bones was still a good program. In all honesty, this was the BEST episode of Bones I have seen since Season 3, and it is certainly in the running for the best episode of all time. Brilliantly acted, full of moving moments of talk about 9/11, and great touching scene at the end. I was sobbing throughout the episode, and especially when the squinterns were talking about 9/11, and then again at the funeral. My God, this truly pointed to the reason for the Jeffersonian to exist, to give voice to lost heroes. Thank you, producers, for honoring the fallen and for helping me to believe in a show that I thought was dead.

The Patriot in PurgatoryI love this show. I love the interaction among the actors. I love that this show explains things in such great details. This episode was absolutely beautiful. This show is still on because itâ€™s excellent. Look at how long it's been on.I still have the past seasons of this show on my instant Queue on netflix. This show is being watch by thousands on Netflix. I only have 1 complaint; I prefer the older intro music instead. Keep the new intro just go back to the old music, itâ€™s better.

Stephanie•November 14, 2012 10:04

I admit that, based on the promo, I thought this was going to be another run-of-the-mill episode, only with 5 Squinterns instead of just one. And the first few minutes seemed to confirm that, what with the rivalry and Bones' "coaching." And then they got stuck on the homeless guy and... wow. The rest of the episode was just beautifully done. I loved how everyone worked together to find answers, sharing their 9/11 stories along the way. This was a magnificent tribute to the victims, survivors, and heroes of September 11, 2001.Well done, Bones, well done. :)

(Continuation from previous comment ".... national security person interviewing Bones would be required to sit exactly where she was until government black suits came to gather and destroy all of her interview notes. This Bones has gone from misinterpreted the Guido tribe of New Jersey to watching cartoons with her baby and introducing herself NOT as the world's greatest living forensic anthropologist but as Booth's mate. Happily! And I like this Bones and this season fine!" Keep Lovin' Bones MoxieGirl44The When and the How: A Bone to Pick

There have been several very powerful performances this season. My favorites have been the intense ones between B&B where they navigate the tumultuous waters of their still developing relationship. The writers, Boreanaz and Deschanel have done a masterful job of giving us that. However, a serial comedy that delivered abject intensity episode after episode would be unrealistic and daunting. There should be a natural ebb and flow to the overall story arc, which I feel they have provided for us. As Keith Vlasak mentioned, this Brennan is has come a long way, baby. This was @ Keith Vlasak's comment. I like it so much I'm copying it to bump it back to the top so new viewers can see it... "Yes, moving episode. No, this is not a bad season at all -- but your pointing out Bones would never butt slap ... makes me consider that this is a Bones who is not the same character in season 1, for instance, who supposedly could make a 10 second phone call and a national security person interviewing Bones would be required to sit exactly where she was until government black suits came to gather and destroy all of her interview notes. This Bones has gone from misinterpreted the Guido tribe of New Jersey to watching cartoons with her baby and introducing herself NOT as the world's greatest living forensic anthropologist but as Booth's mate. Happily! And I like this Bones and this season fine!"